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The Great Stink: A Novel of Corruption and Murder Beneath the Streets of Victorian London
by Clare ClarkA mystery that offers &“a gripping and richly atmospheric glimpse into the literal underworld of Victorian England—the labyrinthine London sewer system&” (Publishers Weekly, starred review). Clare Clark&’s critically acclaimed The Great Stink &“reeks of talent&” as it vividly brings to life the dark and mysterious underworld of Victorian London (The Washington Post Book World). Set in 1855, it tells the story of William May, an engineer who has returned home to London from the horrors of the Crimean War. When he secures a job transforming the city&’s sewer system, he believes that he will be able to find salvation in the subterranean world beneath the city. But the peace of the tunnels is shattered by a murder, and William is implicated as the killer. Could he truly have committed the crime? How will he bring the truth above ground? With richly atmospheric prose, The Great Stink combines fact and fiction to transport readers into London&’s putrid past, and marks the debut of a remarkably talented writer in the tradition of the very best historical novelists. &“A crackerjack historical novel that combines the creepy intrigue of Caleb Carr, the sensory overload of Peter Ackroyd and the academic curiosity of A. S. Byatt.&” —Los Angeles Times
Songs of Earth and Power: The Complete Series (Songs of Earth and Power #2)
by Greg BearMusic, myth, and magic mix—in this two-volume fantasy masterpiece by a New York Times–bestselling author that is a &“joy to read&” (Publishers Weekly). Hugo and Nebula Award–winning author Greg Bear explores the power of music to open a portal between worlds in this pair of brilliantly imagined fantasy novels. The Infinity Concerto: Following the instructions of a virtuoso composer—whose controversial Concerto Opus 45 is actually a song of power—young poet Michael Perrin passes through a gateway between Earth and the Realm of the Sidhedark, where faeries reign by rule of magic, and Michael&’s epic journey begins . . . The Serpent Mage: After five years trapped in the Realm of the Sidhedark, Michael has returned home to Los Angeles. But the song of power has weakened the veil between the human and fairie worlds, and the Sidhe have followed him to the other side . . .
You Have the Right to Remain Silent (The Marian Larch Mysteries #4)
by Barbara PaulA grisly quadruple slaying drags Marian Larch into a shadowy government cover-up Marian Larch is tired of murder. This NYPD veteran has seen the worst the city has to offer, and she&’s not sure she can stand another day. Temporarily assigned to the chaotic Ninth Precinct, Larch is saddled with a callous lieutenant and a partner who can&’t stand working with a woman. Just coming to work every day is becoming a trial—but it&’s about to get a whole lot worse. In the concrete jungle of Alphabet City, East River Park is a rare strip of green. When four well-dressed men are found there, handcuffed together and shot through their eyes, it&’s up to Larch to find their killer. They were employees of a top-flight tech firm with ties to the US government, and their deaths were meant as a warning. But who was the warning intended for? Answering that question will show Larch that as rotten as the Big Apple can be, it has nothing on Washington.You Have the Right to Remain Silent is the 4th book in the Marian Larch Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
The Eustace Diamonds: Third Of The Palliser Novels (The Palliser Novels #3)
by Anthony TrollopeFor an ambitious, keenly intelligent woman, lying proves to be the easiest way to get through life, in this Victorian-era classic. Lizzie Greystock is a woman of rare cunning and determination—both of which she uses to better her lot in life. This is especially true when she manages to convince the ailing Sir Florian Eustace to marry her shortly before his demise, leaving Lizzie both a wealthy widow and the mother to Florian&’s young son. A born deceiver, Lizzie is easily able to keep up the front of a proper mourning widow. But while her inherited wealth provides her with comfort, her true love is saved for the opulent diamond necklace her late husband gifted to her. Though it is a family heirloom, she adamantly refuses to give it up, and it soon becomes the focus of her life and the lives of those around her. The story of one woman&’s ability to mask her true self and manipulate those who would do the same, TheEustace Diamonds shows the true mastery of witty storytelling and social mores that made Anthony Trollope a revered author. The Eustace Diamonds is the 3rd book in the Palliser Novels, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order. This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.
Rogue Moon (S. F. Masterworks Ser.)
by Algis BudrysA Hugo Award Finalist: Humanity struggles to understand a killing labyrinth discovered on the Moon in this science fiction adventure about death and rebirth Hugo and Nebula Award–winning author Robert Silverberg credits Rogue Moon with containing &“the most terrifying pages in any SF novel I have ever read.&” A monstrous apparatus has been found on the surface of the moon. It devours and destroys in ways so incomprehensible to humans that a new language has to be invented to describe it and a new kind of thinking to understand it. So far, the human guinea pigs sent there in hopes of unraveling the murderous maze have all died terrible deaths. The most recent volunteer survived but is now on suicide watch. The ideal candidate won&’t go insane even as he feels the end approaching. Al Barker has already stared into the face of death; he can handle it again. But he won&’t merely endure the trauma of dying. Barker will die over and over—even as his human qualities are preserved on Earth. With its cast of fascinating characters—like brilliant scientist Edward Hawks, who is obsessed with rebirth—Rogue Moon is a rare thriller that doesn&’t just make you sweat. It makes you think.
Les Misérables: Part First: Fantine, Volume 1 (Les\mis�rables Ser. #Vol. 1)
by Victor HugoThe novel that inspired the beloved Broadway musical: Jean Valjean&’s immortal adventure among the dispossessed of nineteenth-century Paris. Widely considered Victor Hugo&’s masterpiece, Les Misérables is both an epic story and a penetrating social criticism of nineteenth-century France. In this tale of crime, punishment, love, and the pursuit of justice, we meet some of the most unforgettable characters in literature, including Jean Valjean, the heroic peasant arrested for stealing a loaf of bread; Cossette, the abused daughter of a prostitute; and Inspector Javert, the policeman who relentlessly hounds Valjean at every turn. With encyclopedic sweep, Hugo&’s novel investigates topics ranging from the construction of Parisian sewers to the Battle of Waterloo. First published in 1862, Les Misérables has inspired numerous film adaptions as well as the long-running stage musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg. It is, in the words of Upton Sinclair, &“one of the half-dozen greatest novels in the world.&” This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.
Capo: A Novel of New Orleans' Most Notorious Gangster
by Peter WatsonA young Sicilian immigrant rises through the ranks of the Mafia in this &“mesmerizing&” novel that &“gives Puzo a run for his money&” (Publishers Weekly). Sicily, 1879: After successfully smuggling a severed human ear past the police, Silvio Randazzo completes his dangerous first rite of passage—from peasant boy to Mafia soldier. The ear is a chilling ransom demand from Antonino Greco, Italy&’s most famous and feared Mafioso. But it&’s not until Randazzo commits his first vendetta killing that he truly &“makes his bones&” as a worthy member of the society that values honor above all . . . and rewards betrayal with death. New Orleans, 1880: By exterminating the rivals of Angelo Priola—the most powerful gangster in America&’s most decadent city—the newly arrived Randazzo makes his mark in the fledgling underworld of his new homeland. As the law closes in on the notorious Greco, and dangerous new players vie for Priola&’s territory, the cunning, ruthless, and ever more ambitious Randazzo watches the path clear for his own ascension to the throne of capo—boss of bosses. In the tradition of The Godfather, this &“absorbing, historically authentic tale,&” inspired by real events, brings to vivid life the bloody and brutal world of the Mafia (The Observer).
The Three Musketeers: Classics Illustrated (The D’Artagnan Romances #1)
by Alexandre DumasIn seventeenth-century France, a daring young man defends the queen&’s honor and tests his skills against the best swordsmen of the day D&’Artagnan journeys to Paris armed with nothing but his sword, his courage, and a burning desire to prove his mettle as a member of King Louis XIII&’s elite guardsmen. A swashbuckling corps of gentlemen rogues, the Musketeers live to antagonize Cardinal Richelieu and sweep every woman in France off her feet. Before d&’Artagnan can join their ranks, however, he must distinguish himself on the field of battle. On his first day in the capital, d&’Artagnan accidentally offends the honor of three dashing Musketeers—Athos, Porthos, and Aramis—and agrees to duel each one in turn. But before they can match steel, the combatants are interrupted by the cardinal&’s guards, embroiling d&’Artagnan in complex affairs of state, dangerous court intrigues, and a sinister battle against the wily and seductive spy Milady de Winter. A richly detailed historical novel and one of the greatest adventure stories ever told, The Three Musketeers is a masterwork of Western literature. This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.
Anatomy of an Illness as Perceived by the Patient: Reflections on Healing and Regeneration
by Norman CousinsNational Book Award Finalist: The &“amazing&” New York Times bestseller about the power of laughter and optimism in fighting serious illness (Chicago Sun-Times). Norman Cousins&’s iconic firsthand account of victory against terminal disease, Anatomy of an Illness as Perceived by the Patient inspired a revolution, encouraging patients to take charge of their own treatment. A political journalist and activist, Cousins was also a professor of medical humanities at UCLA, where he studied the biochemistry of human emotions and their relationship to healing. When Cousins was hospitalized with a debilitating collagen illness, he decided to take his health into his own hands. Cousins and his doctor combated the disease together by creating a regimen of laughter and vitamin C specifically calibrated to his needs. Against all odds, the treatment worked, proving to Cousins that a positive attitude was key to his improvement. Years later, Cousins set pen to paper to tell the story of his recovery. In this humorous and insightful account, Cousins analyzes his own journey in relation to holistic medicine and discusses the astounding power of mind over body. The result is an inspirational and educational guide to health that continues to offer hope to many. This ebook features an extended biography of Norman Cousins by his daughter, Sarah Cousins Shapiro.
The Key West Novels: Half Moon Bay and Thunder Island (Key West Novels)
by Meryl SawyerTwo novels of sizzling romantic suspense set in the steamy Florida Keys from a New York Times–bestselling author who &“always entertains&” (Heather Graham). In one volume, two gripping novels from Meryl Sawyer, who &“writes romantic suspense that keeps you turning pages with lightning speed&” (New York Times–bestselling author Kristin Hannah). Half Moon Bay: Her safety in the witness protection program suddenly compromised, Amy Conroy is on the run until a car accident lands her in a Key West Hospital. When she&’s mistaken for the dead driver, Amy undergoes reconstructive surgery and steps into the strange woman&’s identity—and a passionate and risky relationship with a handsome investigative journalist. But her new life as Shelly Ralston is much more treacherous than she bargained for, and a madman with murder in mind has his eye on her. Thunder Island: A dedicated member of Miami&’s K9 search-and-rescue unit, Jennifer Whitmore is in Key West for an antiterrorism unit when she finds herself face-to-face with the man she once loved. The unexpected reunion awakens a desire they&’d both thought long dead, complicating the task at hand when the pair must join forces to rescue a missing child. Neither of them anticipates the twisted tangle of lies they will uncover at an elite resort—or the disturbing secrets someone will kill to keep.
Shan (China Maroc #2)
by Eric Van LustbaderA novel of suspense and mystical adventure in China from the New York Times–bestselling author of Jian and the Nicholas Linnear series. A martial arts expert and former agent of the top secret US government agency known as the Quarry, Jake Maroc has experienced great betrayal and tragedy. Caught up in a game of shifting loyalties, assassins, and power hungry nations, he knows there are few he can trust. Now part of Hong Kong&’s yuhn-hyun, the inner circle that will someday control all of Asia, Jake is poised to lead China to fulfill its ancient destiny. On a plateau in the heart of the Burmese highlands lies Shan, the holy site where men are tested and the deepest secrets of Eastern mysticism are revealed. It is here that Jake will face his greatest challenge as the fate of the world hangs in the balance. From a master known for his continuation of Robert Ludlum&’s legendary Jason Bourne thrillers, as well as numerous other bestsellers, Shan is &“a Far East Arthurian epic, laden with . . . dragons, mountains, fire . . . and a story line mined with mystical aphorisms&” (The Wall Street Journal).
I, Judas: A Novel
by Taylor Caldwell Jess StearnFrom a #1 New York Times–bestselling author: The story of Judas Iscariot—and the stunning betrayal that changed the course of history. One of the great dramas of the biblical era is brought to thrilling new life in this epic novel told from the unique perspective of Judas Iscariot himself. This is the story of Judas the myth, condemned by Dante to the most terrifying circle of Hell; Judas the man, the son of wealth and power who fought to suppress the lusts of the flesh and the sin of pride to become one of the twelve original disciples of Jesus Christ; and Judas the apostle, victim of a diabolical lie, history&’s arch traitor, who sold his Lord for thirty pieces of silver, and sealed his fate with a kiss. From Judas&’s years as the young rebel of an affluent family undone by his own idealism to his victimization by Pontius Pilate to the crucifixion and Christ&’s resurrection, I, Judas &“read[s] like a modern novel of intrigue and thrills&” (Chattanooga Times). The final entry, following Dear and Glorious Physician and Great Lion of God, in a trilogy celebrating key historical figures of the Bible, it is one of the most powerful and revelatory works of religious fiction ever published.
The Witch's House
by Charlotte ArmstrongA madwoman holds a professor prisoner in this frightening thriller by the Edgar Award–winning &“mistress of day-lit terror&” (The New York Times). California University mathematics instructor Pat O&’Shea is horrified to learn that a fellow faculty member is responsible for the theft of a valuable piece of lab equipment. But biology professor Everett Adams hasn&’t just turned thief; he&’s also become a stark raving madman. After a confrontation, Adams leaves his accuser for dead, badly beaten on the outside of town. Now, no one has seen either man in days. When O&’Shea awakens in a dilapidated old bungalow on a deserted stretch of nowhere, he&’s not in the hands of a rescuer, but rather at the mercy of a captor. The watchful old woman is demented, homicidal, and taking wicked delight in keeping a hostage. Her killer hound stands guard, and if all goes according to plan, the gravely injured O&’Shea will never be allowed to leave. Frustrated by the ineffective work of the authorities, O&’Shea&’s wife, Anabel, is committed to conducting her own investigation into her husband&’s disappearance. Amassing a trail of evidence, she follows a strange path of baffling clues, family skeletons, and fatal secrets. One by one, they will lead Anabel to a house on the dark side of a dead-end road.
Privileged Conversation
by Ed McBainThe author of the 87th Precinct series presents an electrically charged thriller about a psychiatrist and a dancer—and the passion that may destroy them both. On his lunch break, David, a mild-mannered therapist, takes a walk in Central Park. It&’s a muggy June day, and the park is a respite from the parade of neurotics who keep him in business. A woman passes on a bicycle and tosses him a cheerful greeting. A few seconds later, David hears her scream. A mugger has knocked her to the ground, punched her in the face, and escaped with the bike. David helps the girl up. She&’s beautiful, grateful . . . and far more dangerous than she looks. A Broadway dancer, Kate stirs something within David that he hasn&’t felt in years. When his wife goes to Martha&’s Vineyard for the summer, he dives headlong into a passionate affair with the mysterious young woman, risking his marriage and reputation for the sake of someone he knows nothing about. And as he slips deeper into obsession, he will learn that Kate has a deadly secret that threatens everything he loves. A gripping novel of erotic suspense, Privileged Conversation is written with the sure hand of a master storyteller. Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Ed McBain was one of the greatest thriller authors of the twentieth century, and this is one of his best.
Close Her Eyes: Close Her Eyes, Last Seen Alive, And Dead On Arrival (The Inspector Thanet Mysteries #4)
by Dorothy SimpsonA mystery about a missing girl and a secretive church in a small English village from an author known for &“character and psychological insight&” (The Washington Post). On a blistering summer weekend, as all of England rushes to the seashore, Det. Inspector Luke Thanet is looking forward to a few days off to putter around his garden and forget the stresses of his job. A famously soft-hearted detective, Thanet takes every crime personally, and he&’s overdue for a break. But when a young girl goes missing, it&’s all hands on deck. Thanet will move heaven and earth to bring Charity Pritchard home alive. But do her parents even want her found? Charity&’s family belongs to a strict fundamentalist religious order, and they insist that the investigation of her disappearance be left up to God. But when the holy approach fails tragically and Charity is found brutally murdered, Thanet and his partner, the impetuous young Mike Lineham, will tear the church apart to find her killer. &“A well-crafted [and] compelling mystery novel,&” Close Her Eyes is part of the acclaimed Inspector Thanet series, which includes CWA Silver Dagger winner Last Seen Alive (The Armchair Detective). Close Her Eyes is the 4th book in the Inspector Thanet Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
I Was a Teenage Dwarf: Stories
by Max ShulmanThis hysterical follow-up to The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis details the lifelong pursuits of the pint-sized Don Juan Each chapter—straight from the diaries of Dobie Gillis—is a true experience from our hero&’s life between the ages of thirteen to thirty. All the experiences are about girls, because that&’s what Dobie&’s life is about: girls. In &“Girls: Their Cause and Cure,&” Dobie is a sixth-grader with the serious issue of being shorter than every girl in his class. A petite cellist with leaky tear ducts is his best bet until a beautiful rock-and-roll chick arrives at school. Dobie falls hard for the new girl, not realizing that she&’s due for a growth spurt. Two years later, Dobie has more important concerns. In &“Puberty Is Here to Stay,&” his girlfriend, Tuckie Webb, goes away to summer camp and comes back more stunning than ever. Too bad she has hulking seventeen-year-old Murder McIntyre attached to her arm. Fifteen years later, Dobie weds his college sweetheart, Chloe. Marriage, it turns out, is the cure for Dobie&’s obsession with girls, but money worries now plague our hero&’s mind. When baby Pete arrives and Chloe spends all their cash on vitamins, nursery school, fencing lessons, and fancy dogs, Dobie fears he&’ll never have the nest egg he desires. Then he realizes that he already has the two things a man really needs: a beautiful, loving wife and a happy child.
Death on the Aisle: A Mr. And Mrs. North Mystery (The Mr. and Mrs. North Mysteries #4)
by Richard Lockridge Frances LockridgeMr. and Mrs. North win front-row seats to a murder on Broadway Dorian Hunt intends to marry Lt. William Weigand, and she doesn&’t care how many murderers get in the way. Every time they&’ve tried to tie the knot, her fiancé has let Jerry and Pamela North sweep him up in another mystery, and Dorian has had enough. Today, she&’s demanding a wedding—murder or no murder—but before the couple can find a minister, Lieutenant Weigand gets sidetracked again. A dead man is found sitting in the West 45th Street Theatre, a stab wound in the back of his neck. As Dorian expects, the Norths are tied to the case—Mr. North represents the play&’s author—and they plan on helping Weigand solve the caper, whether he likes it or not. The bride-to-be will soon find that solving mysteries is a cakewalk, but getting married can be murder.Death on the Aisle is the 4th book in the Mr. and Mrs. North Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
The House of the Seven Gables: A Romance (classics Of Gothic Literature)
by Nathaniel HawthorneA family burdened by the sins of their forebears seeks redemption in this Gothic masterpiece from one of the most influential voices in American literature In a small New England town, the haunted halls of Pyncheon House trap its current owners—Hepzibah Pyncheon and her brother, Clifford—in an atmosphere of gloom and despair. Two hundred years ago, their ancestor seized the property from a man sentenced to death for practicing witchcraft. At his execution, the man placed a curse on the Pyncheons, and the family has been plagued by tragedy ever since. Enlivened by the arrival of Phoebe, a pretty young relative who begins a tentative romance with Holgrave, their mysterious attic lodger, Hepzibah and Clifford hope that the curse has finally lifted. But before a new day can dawn, they must first contend with Judge Jaffrey Pyncheon, whose greed and treachery threaten to doom the family forevermore. Inspired by the role his ancestors played in the Salem witch trials, Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote The House of the Seven Gables to explore the complicated legacy of the Puritans. First published in 1851, his savage indictment of the darkness at the heart of the American dream is more powerful than ever. This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.
Our Tragic Universe
by Scarlett ThomasThis &“delightfully whimsical novel riffs on the premise that ordinary lives stubbornly resist the tidy order that a fiction narrative might impose on them&” (Publishers Weekly). Can a story save your life? Meg Carpenter is broke. Her novel is years overdue. Her cell phone is out of minutes. And her moody boyfriend&’s only contribution to the household is his sour attitude. So she jumps at the chance to review a pseudoscientific book that promises life everlasting. But who wants to live forever? Consulting cosmology and physics, tarot cards, koans (and riddles and jokes), new-age theories of everything, narrative theory, Nietzsche, Baudrillard, and knitting patterns, Meg wends her way through Our Tragic Universe, asking this and many other questions. Does she believe in fairies? In magic? Is she a superbeing? Is she living a storyless story? And what&’s the connection between her off-hand suggestion to push a car into a river, a ship in a bottle, a mysterious beast loose on the moor, and the controversial author of The Science of Living Forever? Smart, entrancing, and boiling over with Thomas&’s trademark big ideas, Our Tragic Universe is a book about how relationships are created and destroyed, how we can rewrite our futures (if not our histories), and how stories just might save our lives.
Tolkien and the Great War: The Threshold of Middle-earth
by John GarthHow the First World War influenced the author of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy: &“Very much the best book about J.R.R. Tolkien that has yet been written.&” —A. N. Wilson As Europe plunged into World War I, J. R. R. Tolkien was a student at Oxford and part of a cohort of literary-minded friends who had wide-ranging conversations in their Tea Club and Barrovian Society. After finishing his degree, Tolkien experienced the horrors of the Great War as a signal officer in the Battle of the Somme, where two of those school friends died. All the while, he was hard at work on an original mythology that would become the basis of his literary masterpiece, the Lord of the Rings trilogy. In this biographical study, drawn in part from Tolkien&’s personal wartime papers, John Garth traces the development of the author&’s work during this critical period. He shows how the deaths of two comrades compelled Tolkien to pursue the dream they had shared, and argues that the young man used his imagination not to escape from reality—but to transform the cataclysm of his generation. While Tolkien&’s contemporaries surrendered to disillusionment, he kept enchantment alive, reshaping an entire literary tradition into a form that resonates to this day. &“Garth&’s fine study should have a major audience among serious students of Tolkien.&” —Publishers Weekly &“A highly intelligent book . . . Garth displays impressive skills both as researcher and writer.&” —Max Hastings, author of The Secret War &“Somewhere, I think, Tolkien is nodding in appreciation.&” —San Jose Mercury News &“A labour of love in which journalist Garth combines a newsman&’s nose for a good story with a scholar&’s scrupulous attention to detail . . . Brilliantly argued.&” —Daily Mail (UK) &“Gripping from start to finish and offers important new insights.&” —Library Journal &“Insight into how a writer turned academia into art, how deeply friendship supports and wounds us, and how the death and disillusionment that characterized World War I inspired Tolkien&’s lush saga.&” —Detroit Free Press
The Valiant Women (The Arizona Saga #1)
by Jeanne WilliamsWinner of the Spur Award: The first volume in a breathtaking trilogy of historical romance novels inspired by the daring men and women who settled Arizona. Patrick O&’Shea&’s spirit watches his naked, parched body crawl through rock and thorn before leaving him for dead. All hope is lost until Socorro, a Spanish beauty of noble birth and the sole survivor of an attack on her wedding party as it journeyed to California, finds Shea and slowly, painfully revives him. When he&’s able to walk again and they&’ve dried enough roots and cactus fruit to travel some distance, the pair heads north. At a smoldering ranchero, they extract an arrowhead from Santiago, the half-Mexican, half-Apache survivor of a raid by gringo scalp hunters whose gruesome trophies—as long as they&’re dark-haired enough to pass for Indian—fetch a high price from the governor of Sonora. Eager for vengeance but needing time to recover from his injuries, Santiago joins Shea and Socorro on their journey to a peaceful, stream-watered valley in the rolling foothills of Arizona, where they take in Tjúni, a Papago woman who managed to escape an Apache raid but lost her entire family. The four refugees must rely on their courage, loyalty, and resolve to build a new home and fend off bandits. They win the friendship and protection of a great Apache chief, Mangus Coloradas, who allows Shea—after he proves his bravery by enduring a red-hot iron to the cheek—to become the guardian of Talitha, a Mormon captive, and her two-year-old, half-Apache brother, James. Over the years, Talitha grows into a stunning, headstrong beauty whose love for her foster father burns with passionate intensity. A page-turning saga of destiny and desire set during a fascinating period in American history, The Valiant Women is as vibrant and unforgettable as the sunset over a desert canyon.
The Flame of Life: A Novel (The William Posters Trilogy #3)
by Alan SillitoeA portrait of individual and communal struggles to maintain authenticity and revolutionary fervor in 1960s England from award-winning, bestselling author Alan Sillitoe The final installment of the William Posters Trilogy revolves around the plights and foibles of the Handley family commune, which set up camp at the home of the wealthy Myra Bassingfield. There, painter Albert Handley is pursuing a whirlwind existence of art, sex, and chaotic domestic life. Of his seven children, four are giving him particular grief. His eldest son, Cuthbert, has been kicked out of theological college; his eldest daughter, Mandy, is pregnant by her unstable husband; and two of his younger sons, Richard and Adam, are pillaging army manuals for subversive and revolutionary ends. To top it all off, Myra&’s lover, Frank Dawley, has returned from gunrunning in Algeria—and brought along his wife and two kids from Nottingham to live in the Buckinghamshire kibbutz. Collective cohabitation soon reveals its downfalls. And when a young Spanish anarchist arrives with assassination on her mind, her trunk full of notebooks may condemn Frank for a sin committed in the African desert. As the community hangs by a thread, the very notion of revolution comes under scrutiny, begging the question: Can the fire of life burn, even when its flame is no longer in sight? This ebook features an illustrated biography of Alan Sillitoe including rare images from the author&’s estate.
Moby Dick: Moby Dick, Afrikaans Edition (Literatura Juvenil (panamericana Editorial) Ser.)
by Herman MelvilleThis nineteenth-century classic is at once a thrilling adventure, a timeless allegory, and &“the greatest of American novels&” (The Atlantic Monthly). Despite strange warnings, Ishmael, a young schoolteacher from Manhattan, signs up for a voyage aboard the Pequod, a whaling ship departing from New Bedford, Massachusetts. While on shore, he strikes up a friendship with Queequeg, a tattooed South Seas cannibal. The unlikely friends are hired for the journey—only to discover their commander will be Captain Ahab, a brooding, one-legged, tyrannical old man fixated on avenging Moby Dick, the great white whale who crippled him. Along with the rest of the crew, including unforgettable characters like the intellectual first mate Starbuck who risks standing up to Ahab, cheerful second mate Stubb, and African harpooner Daggoo, Ishmael sets out for a hair-raising adventure laden with danger and nameless horrors. As they dare to challenge God&’s most dreaded creation and nature&’s indifference to human survival, their fate lies with their monomaniacal captain, whose obsession can only lead to tragedy. Considered a masterpiece of American literature, Moby Dick—from its famous first line, &“Call me Ishmael,&” to its dramatic climax—has fascinated generations of readers.
Keep Me Close (Windsor Selection Ser.)
by Clare FrancisA woman is viciously attacked by an intruder in this thrilling crime novel from international bestselling author Clare Francis Catherine Galitza is assaulted in her own home, thrown down the stairwell, and left with serious injuries. As she recovers, she works to solve the mystery of her attacker&’s identity, focusing on the barrage of nuisance phone calls she has been receiving for months. Catherine begins to consider the idea of a stalker, a watcher who has become obsessed, playing a silent role in her life. Two men are curiously intent on helping her discover the truth—Simon Jardine, her husband&’s business partner; and Terry Devlin, a self-made Irish hotelier whom she has known since youth—but can they be trusted? Finally, the police arrest a suspect, yet Catherine still feels the eyes of a watcher: Will she discover the true culprit before it&’s too late?
Flower Fables: Large Print (Start Publishing Llc Ser.)
by Louisa May AlcottVenture to a world of fairies and flowers in this nineteenth-century collection of stories and poems from the beloved author of Little Women. At the tender age of sixteen, Louisa May Alcott&’s imagination was already in full bloom. From tales she told her neighbor, Ellen, daughter of Ralph Waldo Emerson, she wove together stories and songs about fairies, elves, talking flowers, and animals. With innocence and whimsy, Alcott revealed the shadowy kingdom of the Frost-King; introduced the vain fairy, Thistledown, and his kindly friend, Lily-Bell; descended into the depths of the sea with Ripple, the water-spirit; and more! The inspiration for the setting of &“Fairyland&” was in fact the wooded area around Walden Pond owned by Emerson, where Henry David Thoreau would lead the Alcott sisters and their friends on the berry-picking adventures that activated a rich fantasy world in young Alcott&’s mind. As delicately constructed as a butterfly&’s wings, these fanciful fables offer a sweet and fascinating glimpse into the imagination of a legendary American writer who had just begun to find her voice. Flower Fables includes&“The Frost King: Or, The Power of Love,&” &“Eva&’s Visit to Fairy-Land,&” &“The Flower&’s Lesson,&” &“Lily-Bell and Thistledown,&” &“Little Bud,&” &“Clover-Blossom,&” &“Little Annie&’s Dream: Or, The Fairy Flower,&” and &“Ripple, the Water-SpiritFairy Song.&”This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.